A physical nosonomy, or, A new and true description of the law of God (called nature) in the body of man confuting by many and undeniable experiences of many men, the rules and methods concerning sicknesses or changes in mans body, delivered by the ancient physicians and moderns that followed them ... : also, in the second part of this book is a practice of physick drawn from the best of the moderns and completely treating of those diseases specified in the table formerly, writ by the author, though added to these new scrutinies as if they were a latter work / by William Drage ...

CURE.

Cure is treble: 1. To stop its generation in a Scirrhous matter.

2. For a whole Cancer.

3. For an ulcerated one.

First, To prohibit the turning cancerous of Scirrhs, or mutation of the scirrhous matter into a Cancer.

1. Letting Blood is thought very conducible; it may be made in Ham or Arm, chiefly in Haemorrhoids, for they vent out gross feculent parts of the Blood, and avert: Bleeding is best in Spring and Fall; if she have not her Menstrua, chuse the Saphena-Vein.

2. Such Simples as purge Melancholy are to be prescribed, of not too heating Purgers; this must be frequently done, and better it is to take two too weak, then one too strong; Senna, Epithimum, Myrobalans, and the like, conveniently mixed, both in quantity, and with due Corre∣cters, steeped in Whey, in form of a Nodulus for half an hour, the Whey being first made scalding hot, then lightly pressed out and drunk; the force of the Nodulus may last four or five times for so using.

3. All Substracters from the antecedent Cause, are to be used, of which the aforementioned are not to be neglected.

4. Topicks, which are to be applied to the Privities, being moderately cold, and drying, and mild; an Oyntment of Oyl of Roses, and Yolks of Eggs, with Camphir, prepared in a Leaden Mortar, is most excel∣lent. 2. Juyces may be injected into the Uterus, as of Herb-Robert, Milfoil, and Mullein, which are commended; or Decoction of green

Coriander, Nimphea, and Poppies boiled in Milk; or Unguents dissol∣ved in Milk, or suitable Decoctions, may be injected.

Riverius saith, With the following Receipt, the cancrous swelling of the Paps have been healed; ℞ of the Oyl of the Yolks of Eggs, ℥ij. Juyce of Nightshade, Pauls Betony, and Housleek, ana ʒiij. crude Mercury, ʒij. let them be beat in a Leaden Mortar, with a Leaden Pe∣stil, till they attain to the thickness of a Liniment; Foments also for the washing of the parts affected, of the precedent things, or their like, may be made very useful.

Secondly, If the matter be already made cancerous, and the Cancer hath received growth, though not brought to perfection, there is little hope of Cure; if confirmed, there is none: Here, if there be any hope of Cure, (after using of Generals, as in the Direction for preventing its growth, is instituted) we must flee to Specificals, but mild, for 'tis apt easily to be enraged, and pain to exacerbate; therefore injections of Sac∣carum Saturni, beat in a Leaden Morter, with Juyce of River-Crabs, are specifical; Decoction of Frogs, or Herb-Robert so injected, Oyntments of Pompholix, Ceruss, Camphir, Saccarum Saturni, Oyl of Roses, &c. with a Cataplasm of Frogs boyled, are specifical.

If it be consumed, we must onely use Palliatives, that misery may be the less, and life the longer; the part being now hardened, 'tis most difficult to mollifie it, and restore it to its former sanity; therefore the chief thing now must be mittigation of the pain; Injections of emol∣lient Anodine Simples, with Sperm of Frogs, Foments and Insessions, are to be had in use; Narcoticks and great Dallers of the pain, in more urging Torments, are allowable.

Thirdly, If ulcerate, we must accommodate Medicines to it, as Me∣tals, Mineral-Waters, Dryers, Dullers of Acrimony, and Protracters of its augmentation, the Ashes of River-Crabs washt in Nightshade-Water, mixt with Lead, or Antimony, is much trusted to by some in an ulcerate Cancer.

If much Blood flow from the ulcered Cancer, as often do, the best is Juyce of Plantane and F••ankinsence injected into the U••erus.

Lastly, If it may be hindered or cured, a Prophylactick Method is to be observed, lest a Relapse should happen afterward.